The Attitude Era was an absolutely mental time to be a wrestling fan and there really aren't too many other ways to put it. So very many Superstars came and went, while others were able to extend the lifespan of their characters to the point where they became loved and adored by the audience. For this list, however - we don't need any of that.
All we're looking for is a selection of guys from that era of professional wrestling that would be able to make an impact inside of the Octagon. Now if you're an MMA fan reading this, the likelihood is that you've already scoffed at this article and are in the process of shutting it down. Whilst we understand your reservations, stick with us and you may end up agreeing with a few of our points.
We aren't saying these people would go on to become champions or anything like that, but if they were given the platform then there's no reason to believe that they wouldn't thrive under the mixed martial arts banner. Whether it be for Bellator, UFC or some other organisation, we're confident that the following five Superstars could most definitely bring the attitude. See what we did there?
So without further ado, here are five Attitude Era stars who should've tried MMA.
#5 - Chris Jericho
This one is probably the least likely of the bunch, but we can imagine Chris Jericho to be a never say die kind of fighter inside of the Octagon. He's small, athletic and quick, which are three ingredients that could work very well for him in a fighting environment. If you don't believe us, then just take a glance at some of his backstage altercations in the past.
First off, he pretty much choked out Goldberg. Yes, Bill Goldberg - the former professional football player who quite literally towers above Jericho. That's no small feat and if that wasn't tough enough for you, then perhaps the fact that he stood up to former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar is enough to persuade you that he's man enough to do it.
Onto another Canadian who thinks with his heart before his head.
#4 - Bret Hart
The best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be. Bret "The Hitman" Hart is one of the greatest competitors to ever step foot inside the squared circle and we've got to believe that he can replicate that kind of form when it comes to mixed martial arts. After all, his background in the Hart Dungeon wasn't likely to be the easiest ride of his life.
Bret can handle himself pretty well when it comes to a fight, as exampled by his knockout blow on Vince McMahon following the Montreal Screwjob. Okay, that might be a ridiculous example but when you look at Bret he just looks like a guy who can fight and if MMA was as popular back in the day as it is now, the Hitman would have transitioned into the sport quite nicely.
From one legend to another.
#3 - Kurt Angle
They don't call Kurt Angle a wrestling machine for nothing. The guy is one of the most impressive talents to ever step through the WWE doors, and a lot of that can be attributed to his amateur wrestling background. Interestingly enough, that's also a trait that could be utilised in the MMA world - and we'd put our money on Angle becoming a pretty good striker, too.
Angle would be able to neutralise his opponents and take them down to the ground, frustrating them for as long as he desires. He makes everything he does look easy and after a few fights inside the Octagon, we're confident that he'd be able to carve out quite the legacy for himself in mixed martial arts. Oh, it's true, it's damn true.
Now we look at a man who thrived in a different kind of format.
#2 - Bradshaw
It's no secret that John Bradshaw Layfield has lit a few guys up in his time. Many regarded him as a bully back in the Attitude Era, and that crossed over into his later years with the company as well. For example, after hearing reports of The Blue Meanie suggesting that he was a bully on a podcast JBL beat the hell out of him during ECW: One Night Stand - for real.
But the biggest notch on Bradshaw's bedpost is probably his work during the Brawl for All tournament, where he proved himself to be a more than capable fighter. Sure he wasn't the best, but with some tweaking, he could have found himself in a comfortable position in a promotion's heavyweight division. That isn't a knock on his weight, either - it's just a fact.
We conclude with the man who brought MMA into the wrestling mainstream.
#1 - The Undertaker
The Undertaker is perhaps one of the biggest wrestling-based MMA fans in the world. The guy has always loved the sport as he has alluded to on more than one occasion, and his act of wearing MMA gloves during his matches grabbed a lot of headlines. His fighting style in the squared circle echoes the work of several fighters too, so it should be no surprise to see him at the top of this list.
As many people know Taker has even shown up at a couple UFC events in the past, including the time when Brock Lesnar lost his UFC Heavyweight Championship to Cain Velasquez. The staredown between the two men went viral and they eventually did square off at WrestleMania 30, but how would things have gone if both men had been in MMA from the start?
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